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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Augustine consider as God's typical means of delivering His illumination?
(a) Using adversity to deliver His illumination.
(b) Using humans to deliver His illumination.
(c) Using nature to deliver His illumination.
(d) Using the"still quiet moments" to deliver His illumination.

2. What is Augustine's perception of God's dispensation of "special gifts" of interpreting Scripture?
(a) That they precede periods of peace and prosperity.
(b) That they follow miraculous events.
(c) That they follow periods of oppression of those seeking His blessings.
(d) Dispensing of such gifts is atypical.

3. Augustine wrote that the critics he mainly focuses on in the Preface base their positions on what belief?
(a) Fear of losing their influence.
(b) A misapplication of Scripture.
(c) That they already understand Scripture.
(d) Resistance to accept new ideas.

4. What is the first important distinction that Augustine makes in Book One?
(a) The distinction between "enjoy" and "use."
(b) The distinction between the Christian conception of love and the pagan conception of love.
(c) The distinction between discovering what Scripture teaches and communicating it.
(d) The distinction between learning and teaching.

5. What does Augustine claim to be the central law of love and the message of Christianity?
(a) That one should love God and love thy neighbor.
(b) That one thing that is illuminated truth is loving God and then thy neighbor.
(c) That one should find illuminated truth to love God and thy neighbor.
(d) That the one illuminated truth is to love thy neighbor who loves God.

6. What are the three things that Augustine claims that interpretations of Scripture should build up?
(a) Hope, signs, and the inner eye.
(b) Faith, hope and love.
(c) The inner eye, love, and illuminated truth.
(d) Special gifts, community, and signs.

7. What was the second type of criticism that Augustine suggests "On Christian Doctrine" would face?
(a) Criticism from those who refuse or are unable to apply it.
(b) Criticism from those who face punishment if they try to apply it.
(c) Criticism from those who claim too many Christians could not access proper training.
(d) Criticism from those who claim that Augustine relied too much on training and not enough on divine guidance.

8. What setting does Augustine recommend for sound Scriptural learning?
(a) Human communities.
(b) An ecclesiastical structure.
(c) A private audience with a well-trained Priest.
(d) A properly sanctioned site of Scriptural education.

9. What does Augustine recommend to avoid the negative influences on individual thought?
(a) Paying careful attention to rules for Scriptural learning.
(b) Isolating from temptations.
(c) Devoting regular time in prayer to become sensitive to Divine guidance.
(d) Regular participation in church activities.

10. What is the nature of the second important distinction Augustine identifies in Book One?
(a) A sign is always a thing, but not all things are signs.
(b) Christian love can be found within pagans, but pagan love is antithetical to Christian love.
(c) Everything that is enjoyed is used, but not everything that is used is enjoyed.
(d) Encouragement is an exhortation, but not every exhortation is an encouragement.

11. What Scriptural defense does Augustine use for encouraging critics to consider the validity of "On Christian Doctrine"?
(a) Augustine argues that Scripture does not negate any teaching extrapolated from Scripture.
(b) Augustine argues that Scripture contains many examples of people teaching others.
(c) Augustine argues that Scripture is the foundation of his writing, so his effort is divinely inspired.
(d) Augustine argues, in his blending of Greek and Christian thoughts, that Scripture contains many examples of God using pagans to exhibit his will.

12. What does Augustine write is incompatible with love?
(a) Using things without the goal of enjoying them is incompatible with love.
(b) Using things for non-Scriptural purposes is incompatible with love.
(c) Coveting things for one's self is incompatible with love.
(d) Using things without seeking wisdom is incompatible with love.

13. What is the problem for the critics that Augustine addresses in the Preface when they choose to teach?
(a) If these critics believe that Scripture can only be achieved through "special gifts", isn't God's power of communicating limited out side of his act to give the gifts?
(b) If God only communicates the truth of Scripture through those who have "special gifts", is not God limiting his communication with the pagan who has not received such gifts?
(c) If these critics believe that understanding Scripture can only be achieved through the application of "special gifts", doesn't their effort to teach expose their students to personal bias that might interfere with their "special gifts"?
(d) If these critics believe students of Scripture can only receive understanding through "special gifts", why do they attempt to teach about "special gifts"?

14. What is the logical inconsistency of the critics that Augustine confronts in the Preface?
(a) If learning only comes through community, why does Scripture encourage separation for prayer?
(b) If these critics believe they need no training, why are they reviewing Augustine's works?
(c) If these critics believe that Scripture can only be learned through "special gifts," and God wants everyone to know scriptures, then why doesn't everyone have "special gifts"?
(d) If these critics believe learning only comes through the possession of "special gifts," why do they teach?

15. When Augustine focuses on one of the types of criticism he expects to receive, what does he suggest to the reader?
(a) That these types of critics are stagnant in their thoughts and threaten to limit the influence of Divine guidance.
(b) That these types of critics, if they gather a following around their criticism, are dangerously close to practicing heresy.
(c) That these types of critics will either understand Scripture or believe they do.
(d) That these types of critics are a threat to the true Church.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Augustine characterize things in Book One?

2. How does Augustine describe humans?

3. What is the step that Augustine identifies an individual should take before entering into a proper relationship with God?

4. How are things separated by Augustine?

5. What is Augustine's attitude toward those who have a "special gift" for interpretation from God?

(see the answer keys)

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